Fr. Dr. John Chryssavgis resides with family in Bath, Maine USA, and serves on the Steering Committee of The Orthodox Fellowship of the Transfiguration and as theological advisor to the Ecumenical Patriarch on environmental issues.

'''The Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis''' is an author and [[theologian]] who serves as advisor to the [[Ecumenical Patriarch]] on environmental issues. He is a [[clergy]]man of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]]. In January 2012, he received the title of Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Throne by [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew]].

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Born in Australia (1958), he matriculated from The Scots College (1975), received his degree in Theology from the University of Athens (1980), a diploma in Byzantine Music from the Greek Conservatory of Music (1979), and was awarded a research scholarship to St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary (1982). He completed his doctoral studies in Patristics at the University of Oxford (1983).

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==Life==

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Rev. John Chryssavgis was born in Australia on [[April 1]], 1958. He matriculated from the Scots College in Sydney, New South Wales in 1975 and received his degree in Theology from the University of Athens in 1980. He received a diploma in [[Byzantine Music]] from the Greek Conservatory of Music in 1979 and was awarded a research scholarship to [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary]] in 1982. He completed his doctoral studies in [[Patristics]] at the University of Oxford in 1983. Chryssavgis read patristic theology at Oxford. His work and writing have focused on medieval theology, as well as on the history of the Eastern Church. He holds degrees in theology and sacred music. His teaching has covered wide-ranging topics, such as theological, political, and social developments, themes and personalities of the Middle Ages, including cultural and religious relations and tensions between East and West. His interests have embraced the areas of spirituality, ecology, and [[liturgy]]. His research has specialized in the [[ascetic]] thought and practice of the early Church, especially from the desert tradition of Egypt (fourth century) through the regions of Palestine (fifth-sixth centuries) and Sinai (seventh century). After several months in silent retreat on [[Mt Athos]], he worked with the Greek Orthodox Primate in Australia (1984-94) and was co-founder of [[St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College (Sydney, Australia)|St Andrew's Theological College]] in Sydney, where he was Sub-Dean and taught Patristics and Church History (1986-95). He was also Lecturer in the Divinity School (1986-90) and the School of Studies in Religion (1990-95) at the University of Sydney.<ref>"About Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis" [http://cappellaromana.blogspot.com/2007/10/about-rev-dr-john-chryssavgis-and-his.html]</ref>

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After several months in silent retreat on Mt Athos, he served as Personal Assistant to the Greek Orthodox Primate in Australia (1984-94) and was co-founder of St Andrew’s Theological College in Sydney (1985), where he was Sub-Dean and taught Patristics and Church History (1986-95).He also served as Lecturer in the Divinity School (1986-90), in the School of Studies in Religion (1990-95) at the University of Sydney, and in Patristics at Balamand University in Lebanon.

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In 1995, he moved to Boston, where he was appointed Professor of Theology at [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Cross School of Theology]] and directed the Religious Studies Program at [[Hellenic College (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Hellenic College]] until 2002. He established the Environment Office at the same School in 2001. He has also taught as professor of [[Patristics]] at [[St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology (Tripoli, Lebanon)|Balamand University]] in Lebanon.

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Fr. John moved to Boston in 1995, where he was appointed Professor of Theology at Holy Cross School of Theology, directed the Religious Studies Program at Hellenic College until 2002, and established the Environment Office there in 2001. In May 2008, he delivered the 8th Annual SS. Cyril and Methodius Lecture at St. Paul’s Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His lecture, “Remembering Sacred Silence”, touched on the subtle variations of solitude, silence and stillness in the Letters of Barsanuphius and John.

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In recent years, he has published several books and countless articles in international journals and encyclopedias in the area of religion and ecology, social justice and peace, with forthcoming books including [[John Climacus]]: from the Egyptian Desert to the Sinaite Mountain (Ashgate, UK, Winter 2004); and Light Through Darkness: Insights into Orthodox Spirituality (Orbis Books, Summer 2004)

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The author of several books and numerous articles in several languages on the Church Fathers and Orthodox Spirituality, Fr. John’s publications include “Cosmic Grace, Humble Prayer: The Ecological Vision of the Green Patriarch” (Eerdmans, 2003; 2nd ed. forthcoming) and “Beyond the Shattered Image: Insights into an Orthodox Christian Ecological Worldview” (Light and Life, 2nd ed. 2007).

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He currently serves as theological advisor to the [[Ecumenical Patriarch]] on environmental issues.

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He lives in Maine.

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==Reference==

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<references/>

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==Works==

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*''Persons and Events: Historical Moments in the Development of Orthodox Christianity, Archdiocese of Australia, Sydney, 1985. [Out of print]

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*''Fire and Light: Aspects of the Eastern Orthodox Tradition, Light and Life Publications, Minneapolis MN, 1987.

Contents

Life

Rev. John Chryssavgis was born in Australia on April 1, 1958. He matriculated from the Scots College in Sydney, New South Wales in 1975 and received his degree in Theology from the University of Athens in 1980. He received a diploma in Byzantine Music from the Greek Conservatory of Music in 1979 and was awarded a research scholarship to St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary in 1982. He completed his doctoral studies in Patristics at the University of Oxford in 1983. Chryssavgis read patristic theology at Oxford. His work and writing have focused on medieval theology, as well as on the history of the Eastern Church. He holds degrees in theology and sacred music. His teaching has covered wide-ranging topics, such as theological, political, and social developments, themes and personalities of the Middle Ages, including cultural and religious relations and tensions between East and West. His interests have embraced the areas of spirituality, ecology, and liturgy. His research has specialized in the ascetic thought and practice of the early Church, especially from the desert tradition of Egypt (fourth century) through the regions of Palestine (fifth-sixth centuries) and Sinai (seventh century). After several months in silent retreat on Mt Athos, he worked with the Greek Orthodox Primate in Australia (1984-94) and was co-founder of St Andrew's Theological College in Sydney, where he was Sub-Dean and taught Patristics and Church History (1986-95). He was also Lecturer in the Divinity School (1986-90) and the School of Studies in Religion (1990-95) at the University of Sydney.[1]

In recent years, he has published several books and countless articles in international journals and encyclopedias in the area of religion and ecology, social justice and peace, with forthcoming books including John Climacus: from the Egyptian Desert to the Sinaite Mountain (Ashgate, UK, Winter 2004); and Light Through Darkness: Insights into Orthodox Spirituality (Orbis Books, Summer 2004)

In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, World Wisdom Books, Bloomington IN, 2003. 2nd revised edition 2008. Also translated into Italian: Bose Publications, Italy 2004.